Some things just taste better when consumed outdoors.
These include but are not limited to grilled meats, anything green, corn still on the cob, all cone-based ice creams, crusty baguettes, canned fizzy drinks, most beers, chilled wines and also quite a few cocktails (see juleps, daiquiris and Pimm’s cups).
For those perfect Denver summer days when a cloudless morning doesn’t give way to an afternoon golfball-sized-hail storm, let there be a picnic, whether it’s in a city park surrounded by flowers and screaming kids, or in an amphitheater before a big projector screen.
Consider sitting down to a meal among nature at least once this year.
Here, we offer a handy guide to picnics around Denver. And remember, the table, cutlery and guests are all very much optional.
Where to picnic
Daytime picnicking
With your basket and a blanket in hand, head to a Denver park for the quintessential picnic experience. We like Wash Park for its full spectrum of activities and people watching on any given day or Cheesman Parkfor its city oasis vibes. Both parks also have that can include tables, grills (Wash Park only) and access to restrooms.
Right next to Cheesman Park, the allows visitors to bring their own food for a picnic. You’ll have to pay the $12.50 daily entry fee, so make sure to tour the grounds on your visit. Once inside, find a spot near the solarium in the Woodland Mosaic for a shaded picnic. Or, for sunshine, head to the lawn or perch by the water gardens. Want more waterside picnicking? Try Sloan’s Lake Park, not so far away but miles from the concrete and skyscrapers.
Evening picnicking
Sunday evenings from June to August, there are free concerts and food trucks to enjoy at . Buy food there or bring it with you to enjoy picnic-style while watching jazz performers from Hazel Miller to Badda Boom Brass Band.
And on a handful ofMondays throughout the summer, Red Rocks plays , where you can cuddle up in the coolest outdoor amphitheater while enjoying some packed snacks. At, the century-old design really shines by night. You’ll pay just $4 to enter and can snag a picnic table underneath the creaking rides and neon signs.
What to eat
Themed picnics
For a mellow, two-person meal, the Berkeley neighborhood’s now carries one Colorado picnic pack. For $35, you’ll get summer sausage and sliced coppa, a wheel of MouCo cheese, Denver-based 34 Degrees crackers, Il Porcellino’s pickled vegetables, plus a pair of CBD-infused sparkling waters from Dram for that added chill. Tip: You can also request compostable plates and utensils.
MORE: Not that kind of edible: CBD now on the menu at Denver bars and restaurants
For a game day or night, in Boulder offers a picnic and puzzle box, with a puzzle depicting a picnic scene (how meta!) alongside real-life picnic items for two — cheese, charcuterie, fresh and dried fruits, nuts, olives, hummus, baguette and lavender butter cookies for dessert.
Catered picnics
Sandwich lovers can grab a lunch box to go from neighborhood favorite (with another location in Cherry Creek). For $14, you’ll get a sandwich of choice — in varieties like French, Italian and American — plus chips and a cookie. Another classic deli option, specializes in stuffed hoagies — try the Louie, Severino Grande or Roman Fiesta — at $12-$16 per sub. Add on a couple of salads from the deli counter to make a full meal.
Pastrami fans can try the house 12-day cured and smoked meat on a Reuben ($15) from downtown’s Or step it up with the Fat Jewish ($17), piled with pastrami and corned beef and Swiss and tarragon mustard at RiNo’s Both new-school delis also offer boxed lunches and catering trays. Try Leven’s Easy Does It sandwich platter, which serves six for $75.
Market-fresh picnics
On East Colfax and 17th Avenue, sells deli sandwiches and prepared items alongside a full specialty grocery with pantry items, breads and produce for your picnics. Roast chickens and fresh-baked pies are also available for ordering.
Picnickers across South Denver can find everything needed for an outdoor meal at — from meats and seafood for grilling to charcuterie, cheeses and baked goods for snacking. A full catering menu also includes breakfast burritos and barbecue.
Meaty picnics
Denver Central Market’s caters charcuterie boards ($15-$50) for parties of two to 10 people and offers meal bundles with sandwiches, sides and desserts in three sizes for $12.50-$13.75. The retail shop combines meats, preserves, pickles and more for a quick, pre-picnic stop.
in Lower Highland can provide you with nose-to-tail cuts for grilling, all made from meat that’s raised and harvested within 150 miles of Denver. You’ll also find your deli needs and house-made bone broths, and check out the store’s curated pantry section for other picnicking odds and ends.
Cheesy picnics
on 6th Avenue sells picnic baskets starting at $50 for a hand-picked selection of cheeses and meat, crackers, olives, jelly, fruits and nuts, chocolate and more. You can call the shop a day before your picnic to order those (they come with picnic baskets and utensils). Or stop by the store to pick out your own selection of cheese.
in Denver Union Station sells its own Fruition Farms cheeses, all made in Colorado, from ricotta to cacio pecora. Also find pastries such as sticky buns and danishes and market items like duck rillete and house pickles.
Boozy picnics
Just off 38th Avenue, is a sweet stop for craft liquor and beer and wines, including a $10 bargain bin. And it’s just up the street from Western Daughters, if you’re stopping there for grilling meat.
South Pearl Street’s will not only handle your bottle needs for the picnic, but it can supply your food as well. New this season, you’ll find a dedicated cooler filled with local River Bear American Meats for grilling, Elevation charcuterie and cheeses from Culture Meat & Cheese.
